The current year continued its winning streak yesterday when we made landfall in Maplewood, New Jersey to spend time with my daughter and her family. We loaded up the car with the past three weeks of suitcase packing done by my Favorite Panamanian and headed out through the fog. We made the trip in just 3 hours with Connecticut even taking it easy on us. The FBR was still in school when we arrived which gave us a few hours to hang with my daughter and Wingman. This allowed some catching up that is simply not possible during our daily calls which are dominated by a certain give year old.
Speaking
of that five-year-old, the FBR arrived home from school to find us sitting on
her front steps. There was immediate excitement from both sides. She had been
threatening us with running hugs all week and delivered on that promise to our
sublime delight. Since she’s off from classes next week, the school held an
easter party yesterday and she was determined to show us each and every bit of
candy she acquired. I might have mentioned at that point that we also had
brought her some gifts. You could almost see the lightbulb go off over her head
when she realized in her excitement that she had forgotten what a visit from grandparents
meant.
And Just like that - All Was Right with the World
FBR Arrives Home to Grandparent Laden Porch 
Abuela Gets the First Running Hug
She
spent the next fifteen minutes going through the booty acquired by a certain grandmother
with some sneaky shopping over the past few weeks. This was the first time we’d
seen the FBR in person this year. Her grandfather had also not been blameless
when it came to shopping. When I heard about the recent McDonald’s debacle where
she was given something other than a Raya and the Last Dragon figurine, I
ordered one for her. In the funniest moment of the entire day (which is saying something)
she burst out with “ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!” She could not have been more excited
and a certain grandfather was complete. The dragon has accompanied her
everywhere since acquisition.
A Happy Pair
With her New Dragon
We’d
encourage my daughter and Wingman to give themselves some time during our visit
and they rented a cabin for the weekend. They set out after briefing us on the intricacies
of the FBR’s movie night and feeding of Pee Wee. You can probably guess that the
movie in question was the aforementioned Raya and the Last Dragon. The FBR escorted
me to where the Junior Mints were stored and then “coached” me on how to make popcorn.
Those of you who know me well know that this was akin to an insult based on my
legendary abilities with my favorite snack. But, granddaughters can get away
with a lot and I only nodded at her sage advice.
Exuberance Embodied
Abuela Also Had some Swing Time
This
morning provided the promised 7am wakeup call from the fully alert FBR. We
heard her awake and playing in her room but she patiently waited until her 7am official
wake time to emerge, or more accurately, descend on us. Groins had to be
quickly protected from a flurry of small elbows and knees. My wife had tried to
negotiate a later awakening but that was not to be. The FBR assisted me with my
morning exercises while my Favorite Panamanian created a batch of hojaldras. The
FBR’s parents recently acquired one of those high speed peloton bikes and
offered me its use during our stay. Once I figured out how to connect the shoes
I was able to load in a couple scenic rides for my workout. I spent 10 minutes going
through the old city of Bern which brought back a lot of memories from our 2019
trip to Switzerland. I then finished the workout with a 20 minute trip through the
back roads of Chiriquí, my wife’s home province. It weirdly felt a lot like
going home and the video quality was amazing, I almost forgot I was working
out.
Pee Wee Offering to Help with Bacon Prep
5 Year Old Dynamo
Today
the FBR took me on a tour of the neighborhood with her new bike which probably
qualifies as another workout for me giving the amount of grandfather effort spent
keeping up with her. We then had a session of rocket catch. She has an air
powered rocket set that launches the plastic foam missiles skyward by stepping
on a big cushion. When my wife came outside I began a lesson in adjusting fire with
the FBR until we could reasonably land missiles in her abuela’s vicinity. The
FBR’s also determined the swing was a lot more fun if she was draped across my
chest while I went as high as possible. This turned out to be quite a through arm
workout to complement the bike ride and chase. The FBR was a little put out
when I had to call an end to this activity in the interests both our safety.
Bike Tour
The Arm Workout
 |
| Peas in Proverbial Pod |
This Went on for a While
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I Don't Think Anyone Minded
RECURRING CHARACTERS
BR3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first
granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best
Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman
– my son in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2
– friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend
– friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as
radical leftist to attract women; Kindergarten
Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high
school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions
once my wife got involved in planning; Maine
and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters,
my wife is the 3rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of
my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin
Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we
have lived & their spouses; Neighborhood
Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of
course); First Friday – celebrations
to mark the First Friday of the Week; Curbside
Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in
Brooklyn
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